SANTA CLARA — Meet the 49ers’ Nick Moody, a late-round draft pick and inside linebacker, a position already loaded up with two All-Pro starters in Patrick Willis and NaVorro Bowman.

On paper, Moody’s chances may look bleak in climbing from third string onto the 49ers’ Super Bowl-caliber roster.

On the field, starting with Thursday’s exhibition opener, Moody’s speed and physicality should make him an alluring candidate to survive next month’s final cuts.

“He’s got a lot of good tools in his toolbox. He just isn’t a union carpenter yet,” defensive coordinator Vic Fangio said.

Such raw ability hasn’t scared away the 49ers when crafting their past two rosters under coach Jim Harbaugh and general manager Trent Baalke. In 2011, two undrafted rookies made final cuts: defensive linemen Ian Williams and Demarcus Dobbs. Last year, it was undrafted tight end Garrett Celek.

Moody was the 180th player drafted in April, a sixth-round pick thrown into the 49ers’ 11-man draft class. Not all will make the team, especially because most players are back from last season’s Super Bowl run.

Moody has had an eye-opening rookie camp, where he’s learning Willis’ position, “Jack.” Truth is, Moody is learning all nuances of playing linebacker, having only moved there from safety for his senior season at Florida State.

To better understand Moody’s style, rewind to where his football career began, with the Abington (Pa.) Raiders just north of Philadelphia.

“I was probably 5 or 6, but I was always the kid on the Pop Warner team that was younger than everybody,” Moody recalled. “I had to play up because I was bigger than everybody my age.”

Once he got to play, he was surrounded by boys four years older than him, and Moody quickly found his survival instincts on a football field.

“That’s where I got the physicality from, because I had no other choice,” Moody said. “I’ll go out there and be physical, or they’ll be beating me up and pushing me around all day.”

Moody developed into a running back, wide receiver, cornerback and safety, the latter being where he lined up his first few seasons at Florida State.

“My whole life I was a skill-position player,” Moody added. “Playing those different positions in my past, it definitely helps in different aspects of the game, like movement.”

Willis’ injury last Thursday provided Moody some first-team reps at inside linebacker next to Bowman, who’s missed time with a groin injury. “He’s a physical guy, and I like the way he runs through tackles,” cornerback Perrish Cox said of Moody.

Moody is listed on the depth chart behind Michael Wilhoite (10 career snaps there) and Nate Stupar, who joined the practice squad Jan. 8. To make the 49ers, Moody knows he must also make an impact on special teams. Look for him on all punt and kickoff units.

It’s these types of opportunities that often bring out the best in roster underdogs.

“A first-round pick, he has security. He knows no matter what he does, he’s probably going to be on the football team,” safety Donte Whitner said. “A guy that’s a fifth-, sixth-, seventh-round pick, an undrafted free agent, he knows he can’t make many mistakes. He knows he’s not guaranteed anything.”

“They like my aggression,” Moody said. “But say I do go blow somebody up, it’s like, ‘OK, you did that, but you’ve got to get on the other side of him. You’re outside and need to be inside. Use your hands.’ “

Fangio thinks the rookie is listening to the veterans, and it might pay dividends.

“He has physical ability that I think if he can figure out the game … eventually, he might get his union card,” he said.

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